Brilz-Matyushenko Ticketed for UFC 129

By: Brian KnappFeb 21, 2011

Former International Fight League light heavyweight champion
Vladimir
Matyushenko will lock horns with Jason Brilz
at UFC 129 “St. Pierre vs. Shields” on April 30 at the Rogers
Centre in Toronto. Matyushenko (Pictured) replaces unbeaten
prospect Phil Davis,
who was moved into the main event slot at UFC Fight Night 24 in
March.

Brilz confirmed the news to Sherdog.com on Monday. MMAJunkie.com
was first to report the proposed matchup, which has not been
finalized by the promotion.

Matyushenko has not competed since UFC 122 in November, when he
stopped Alexandre
Ferreira on first-round punches and elbows at the Konig
Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. The 40-year-old Belarusian
has won four of his last five fights, losing only to top light
heavyweight contender Jon Jones in
that span. Matyushenko has proven himself one of the sport’s most
consistent performers, having never lost back-to-back fights in his
13-year career. A decorated amateur wrestler, he won two national
championships at the junior college level.

Brilz last appeared at UFC 114 in May, when he dropped a
controversial split decision to the heavily favored Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The 35-year-old Bismarck, N.D., native wrestled collegiately at the
University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he now serves as an assistant
coach. Brilz has secured half (nine) of his 18 career victories by
submission. He owns a 3-2 mark inside the Octagon.

A welterweight title bout between longtime champion Georges
St. Pierre and top contender Jake Shields
will headline UFC 129, which will air live on pay-per-view.
Organizers expect the event to shatter attendance records.